How To Combine First And Last Names In Excel Explained Using The TEXTJOIN Function

In this video we discuss how to combine first and last names that are in different cells in excel. We go through a detailed example step by step using the TEXTJOIN function in excel
Transcript/notes
Let’s say that you need to combine names, concatenate, or join text together from cells, such as here in cell A2 and B2. One way to do this is to use the TEXTJOIN function. I’m going to put the answer in cell E2, so I left click on cell E2. Next, type in an equals sign, then type in the letters te and a drop down box will appear. In the box, left double click on TEXTJOIN.
Next, we need to put in a delimiter, or a separator to go between the text strings of the first and last names. To do this, I am going to type in quotation marks, then a space, then another quotation marks. So, excel is reading what is between these quotations, which is a space.
Next, we need to type in a comma. From here, we need to type in true or false, to tell the function whether or not to ignore empty cells that may be between the cells we want to join together. In this case, we don’t have any empty cells between, so it doesn’t matter. I’m going to type in true.
Next, we type in a comma. And from here, we need to reference the cells, A2 and B2. I’m going to left click and hold on cell A2, then drag over cell B2, so both cells are highlighted, then release the click and hold. Next, we type in a closed parenthesis to close off the function, then hit the enter key, and we have the text, Bill Smith in our answer cell.
One quick note, if you delete the data in columns A and B, as you see here, it will also remove the data from column C, because it is referencing the data in these columns. To avoid this, you can highlight and copy the data from column C, then right click in the highlighted area, as you see here, and in the pop up box, under paste options, left click on values. Now you can delete the data in columns A and B, and all of your text is permanent in column C.
Chapters/Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:10 How to combine first and last names in excel
1:23 Copy and paste to make the text permanent